Aqua-plane



D. L. RANLETT.

AQUA PLANE.y

.WPHC/ANON.v FILED reen. 1920.'

Patented Qct. 19; 1920.

UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID I.. RANLRTT, oFNEW YoRK, N. Y., AssIGNoRf'ro AMERICAN BALsA COMPANY,

Y INC., A CORPORATION oF-NEW YORK u f i. AQUA-PLANE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented oet. 19, L'1920.

Application filed February 7, 1920. Serial No. 356,842.

To allwhomz'tmag/ concern:V

Be it known that I, DAVID L. RANLETT,

a citizen ofthe United States, and a residentl cation.

aqua-planes. l l l One of the objects of my invention is to produce an aqua-plane which isbuilt up or provided with walls ,abouty the bowlso ask to deiiect spray orwater during its `progress on the water; to prevent the turning down or burying of the `bow of the said ,aqua-v plane and to make it easier for theplane to rise .from the surface of the water.

Another object of my invention is to produce an aqua-plane which, while embodying the required strength, rigidity and power of resistance to strains and shocks encountered in use, will also possess greater lightness in Vweight and greater buoyancy than aqua-planes Aof similar proportions heretofore used. This aqua-plane will, therefore, support on the water a relatively heavier load than such aqua-planes; will rise from the water with a given load at less speed or conversely will s0 rise at a given speed with a greater load, and will `at a givenspeed This invention relates to improvements .in

with a given load remain longer in theair or take greater flights, thus greatly adding to the degree and possibilities of sport which may be obtained by the use of an aquaplane.

With these and' other objects in view, the

invention comprises the' combination of members `and arrangement of parts so .combined as to co-'act and coperate with each other .in the performance of the functions and the accomplishment of the results hereiin contemplated, Yand lcomprises in one of "its adaptations the species or Vpreferred form `illustnit'ed in the 'accompanying drawings, ,inwhichz .Figure 1 'is a planvi'ew of an aqua-plane embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the* vplane shown in Fig. 1;, 'i f i Fig. 3 is a .longitudinal section on the Y line 3-3 of Fig. l; and

4 ,is `an 'enlarged section onV the line 4%.4 .looking forwardly.

-into the balsa 'wood panel. I is thus securely fastened to the balsa wood lReferring now to these drawings, which illustratea preferred embodiment of my invention, l indicates an aqua-plane which comprises a centrally disposed panel 2 prefthe completed aqua-plane.` This panel `fis composed of balsa wood or similar light wood which has beentreated to preserve it and make the same waterproof.' This wood readily absorbs water and therefore vpreferably istreated with paraliin material 'to preserve and make it waterproof. kThis is desirable characteristics `of lightness .in

weight and great structural strength relatively to its weight, is relativelyr soft and pithy in structure and 'offers butlittle resistance to fracture or depression. I thereelably composed of oak or other tough wood. In securing the frame to the balsa woodfpanel I preferably` place the canvas erably ofa configuration similar to that of Qpreferably accomplished in accordance with Y `the process described in Reissue Letters Patent No. 13,952 of Robert A. Marr. This fore surround thevedges of the panel 2 of balsa. wood with a marginal yframe 3 Tprefcover 2 over the upper surface and edges vof the balsa wood, panel and force the oak inforced bya series of suitably-spaced-dowels or rails 4 composed of a suitable tough wood Aand extending transversely from one side of theframe to the other throughthe intermediate panel, the endsy of `said, dowels being seated in boresin the frame: The canvas and frameeare further ifast'en'edto the panel by a series 'offshort dowels 5 frame. through `thefedgeof 'the canvas 'and The'frame 3 panel .2 without the use of nails or' other metallic fastening devices which would, in`

use, rust Aand become ineifective. The rear corners of the frame are preferablviheld to-` which are vdriven through bores i5 in thee' ends of which are closed at opposite ends by oak plugs 7 to prevent access of water to the bolts. y Y

In the preferred embodiment of my invention shown, the aqua-plane is substantially flat and in configuration has its rear and amidship section Substantially rectangular and a bow curving inwardly from the forward end of the ainidship section to a point. ln use, the conventional aqua-plane, under-certain conditions, 1'euries its nose and causes difficulty in manipulation and also spray is often dashed with great force into the face of the user. To obviate this noseburying, to deflect spray and also to assist or make it easier to rise from the water, l provide at the bow shallow walls 8--8EL which, as illustrated, extend forwardly from a point at which the towing line is attached, incline upwardly and outwardly somewhat from the bottom thereof and gradually increase in height from said towing point to the prow ofthe aqua-plane. These walls are preferably formed of oak or other suitable tough material and are preferably set into a seat provided therefor in the frame at the said bow portion. As shown, the walls are reinforced the prow by a triangular-shaped block 9 of oak or like material resting on the frame and suitably secured to the walls at the point where such opposite walls meet.

`Suitable hardware for fastening, towing` and manipulating` ropes is provided and as illustrated double-eye plates l0 are fastened to the oak frame at opposite sides thereof. Toone pair of eyes 10 of said plates, a towing rope 11 is suitably fastened and to the other pair of eyes 10" a manipulating rope 12 is likewise suitably fastened.

It will be seen that l have provided an aqua-plane which, while embodying the required strength and rigidity and power of resistance to the unusual strains and shocks encountered in the use of such a device, will also possess greater' lightness in weight and greater buoyancy than aqua-planes of similar proportions heretoforek used. Furthermore, my improved aqua-plane will support on the water a. relatively heavier load than such other aqua-planes; will rise from the lwater with a given load at less speed, or conversely will sorise at a. given speed with a greater-load and will at a given speed with a given load remain longer in the air or take l greater flights than has heretofore been possible with aqua-planes of similar proportions; and it will be obvious that I have thus greatly added to the degree and possibilities of the sport of aqua-planing.

It will also be seen that by the useof the -walls 8-Sa along the bow, I have provided means which will prevent the burying of the ynose rof the aqua-plane; will deflect spray and will, because of the additional resistance offered to the water, make it easier for the aqua-plane to rise from the water.

Having described my invention, I claim l. An aqua-plane or like device comprising a centrally-disposed panel composed of an extremely light, soft, readily fracturable and porous wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof and a marginal frame of a relatively tough and tenacious wood fastened at the edges of said panel.

9.. An aqua-plane or like device comprising a centrally-disposed panel composed of an extremely light, soft, readily fracturable and porous wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof, a marginal frame of a relatively toughA and tenacious wood fastened at the edges of said panel and means connected to said frame for manipulating said aqua-plane.

3. An aqua-plane comprising a panel composed of balsa wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof, and a marginal frame of a relatively tough and tenacious wood securely fastened around the edges of said panel.

4. An aqua-plane comprising panel composed of balsa. wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof, a covering of tough material for the upper surface of said balsa wood panel, and a marginal frame of a relatively tough and tenacions wood securely fastened around the edges of said panel. y

5. An aqua-plane comprising a panel coinposed of balsa wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof, a marginal frame of a relatively tough and tenacious wood securely fastened around the edges of said panel by means of a series of wooden dowels `extending transversely through said frame into said panel.

6, An aqua-plane or like device comprising a panel composed of Vbalsa wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof, a marginal frame of a relatively tough and tenacious wood securely fastened around the edges of said panel by means of a series of wooden dowels extending transversely from one side of the aqua-plane to the other through said panel and frame.

7. An aqua-plane or like device comprising a panel composed of balsa Vwood which has been treated to preserve and make -it waterproof; a marginal frame of `a relatively tough and tenacious wood securely fastened around the edgeslof said panel and means connected to said frame for manipulating said aqua-plane.

8. An aqua-plane or like device comprising a fiat panel composed 'of balsa wood which has been treated'to preserve and make it waterproof, and having a :pointed prow and a substantially rectangular rear portion; a marginal frame of similar configuration and composed of a relatively tough and tenacious wood securely fastened around the edges thereof and means connected to said frame for manipulating said aqua-plane.

9. An aqua-plane or like device comprising a panel composed of balsa wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof and having a pointed prow and rectangular rear portion; a covering of tough material for the upper part of said balsa wood panel; a marginal frame of similar configuration and composed of a tough and tenacious wood adapted to fit over the edges of said panel; means for fastening said panel frame and covering together, and means connected to said frame for manipulating said aqua-plane- 10. An aqua-plane or like device comprising a panel composed of balsa wood which has been treated to preserve and make it waterproof, and having a pointed prow and rectangular rear portion, a covering of tough material for the upper part of said balsa wood panel, a marginal frame of similar configuration and composed of a tough and tenacious wood securely fastened around the edges thereof, fastening means for connecting said marginal frame, covering and panel together including a series of wooden dowels extending transversely from one side p of the aqua-plane to the other through said panel and frame; and means connected to said frame for manipulating said aquaplane.

11. An aqua-plane having a body portion of suitable configuration and side walls rising from the body portion at the prow.

12. An aqua-plane having a pointed bow and provided with Shallow Side walls bunty up along said pointed bow.

13. An aqua-plane having a pointed bow with walls built up along said pointed bow inclining outwardly and gradually rising from the points of attachment of the towing rope to the prow.

.14. An aqua-plane having a substantially flat and rectangular body portion and a bow curved inwardly from said body portion and provided with shallow walls built up along said pointed bow.

15. An aqua-plane having a substantially flat and rectangular rear and amidship sections and a bow curved inwardly from said amidship sections and walls inclining outwardly and upwardly built up along said bow and gradually diminishing in height from the prow to the rear end thereof.

16. .An aqua-plane or like device comprising a buoyant panel composed of an ex-y tremely light, soft, readily fracturable and porous wood and a reinforcing portion of relatively tough and tenacious material secured to said buoyant panel.

17. An aqua-plane or like device compris ing a buoyant panel composed of an eX- tremely light, soft, readily fracturable and porous wood and a reinforcing portion of relatively tough and tenacious material se;- cured to said buoyant panel and manipulating means for said aqua-plane connected to said reinforcing portion.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to the foregoing specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID L. RANLETT.

Witnesses:

MATTULLATH, EDNA MARIE BLAUvELT. 

